§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the average period of remand without bail in each of the following cases involving accomplice witnesses' evidence of (a) persons convicted, (b) persons acquitted and (c) persons who were released as a result of such evidence being retracted; and how these figures compare with those for persons charged with terrorist-type offences on the basis of evidence other than accomplice evidence;
(2) what was the proportion and number of persons accused of terrorist-type offences on the basis, either wholly or in part, of accomplice witnesses' testimony who were accorded bail; and what was the equivalent proportion of persons accused of terrorist crimes who were not charged on the basis of accomplice testimony who were accorded bail in 1985.
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§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 76–77]: This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many persons accused of terrorist-type offences on the basis of accomplice witness testimony are currently awaiting trial in Northern Ireland; how many persons have been convicted and how many persons have been acquitted of such crimes after having been charged either wholly or partially on the basis of accomplice witness testimony; and how many persons have been released following the retraction of testimony by accomplice witnesses;
(2) how many people have been convicted in the current year, either on their own admission of guilt or following a plea of not guilty, on the basis of evidence given by accomplices on behalf of the Crown in cases concerning scheduled offences in Northern Ireland; how many suspects arrested on the basis of such evidence have been released as a result of the retraction of evidence given by accomplices; and how many people are presently awaiting trial as a result of evidence obtained from terrorist accomplices.
§ Mr. Scott[pursuant to his reply, 3 February 1986, c. 77]: Sixty persons were convicted and 54 persons acquitted in cases concerning scheduled offences during 1985 following trials in which the evidence of a former accomplice was given on behalf of the Crown or on the basis of their statements of admission made during enquiries arising from the evidence of a former accomplice. There have been no such trials so far in 1986. It is not possible to associate directly the number of persons released with the withdrawal of evidence by alleged accomplices because persons may be released for other reasons and because persons who have been charged on such evidence may also face criminal charges on other grounds. However, the available records show that in 1985, following the withdrawal of evidence by alleged accomplices, some or all of the charges against 59 persons were dropped.
On 24 January 1986, 30 persons were on remand or had been returned for trial for scheduled offences in cases in which it was intended that an alleged accomplice would give evidence for the Crown. For figures for earlier years I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 13 February 1985.